20 incredible hotels in the Balearics

An expert guide to the best Balearic Island hotels, including the top places to stay on Ibiza, Formentera, Majorca and Menorca, for access to unspoiled beaches, family-friendly fun, gorgeous pools and rustic bedrooms. 

IBIZA

Although it is renowned for having some of the best nightclubs in the world, Ibiza also has an absolutely beautiful coastline with dozens of tiny coves to discover, not to mention some of the most stylish hotels in the Mediterranean. For a week of wild partying, stay in the lively resorts of Playa d’en Bossa or San Antonio. Santa Eulalia is more laidback with plenty of waterfront bars and restaurants and good shops. For a cultural fix, explore the hilltop Dalt Vila in Ibiza Town, then slide into a pavement café to soak up the boho vibe. Both coast and countryside are beautiful in spring and autumn, when you might want to get a more natural high with a walking or cycling holiday.

Where to stay

• The best agrotourism hotels in Ibiza

FORMENTERA

As soon as you kick off your flip-flops, step on to the warm white sand and gaze into the gently rippling transparent water that surrounds Formentera, you’ll understand why the tiny island just south of Ibiza is so often compared to the Caribbean. Some parts of Migjorn beach, which curves around the south of the island, get busy in summer, but you can always find a quiet spot. Take your snorkel and mask to Ses Platgetes, a string of tiny coves protected by pines, with boat shacks and places where the freshest fish is always on the grill. 

Where to stay

• The best beach hotels in Formentera

MAJORCA

Majorca, the largest island in the Balearics, may make you think of beach resorts, but there are plenty of other ways to enjoy both its coastline and the interior. Although the beach holiday season gets going in May and winds down in October, the island is beautiful all year round. There is also a stunning selection of rural hotels that provide a luxurious base for a week or two spent exploring the lush countryside. Although most resorts close down in the winter months, Palma is great for a weekend break all year round and life goes on in the villages. 

Where to stay

• The best luxury hotels in Majorca

• View our best Majorca holidays

MENORCA

Unspoilt, idyllic, glistening sand, turquoise water… just about every tourist brochure cliché is actually true when you are talking about the beaches in Menorca. It is all about getting out on the water, whether swimming, diving, kayaking, paddleboarding or sailing. Back on land, get your walking boots on hike around the coastal path or cycle through the lanes that crisscross the countryside. Spend a morning strolling around the elegant towns of Ciutadella and Mahón at opposite ends of the island, then kick back at a harbourside table to devour a platter of shellfish. No one is ever in a rush in Menorca.

Where to stay

• The best hotels in Menorca